Pouch container for measuring and dispensing liquids

ABSTRACT

A flexible pouch container is formed by heat sealing adjacent sheets of a thermal plastic material to form a main storage reservoir and a dispensing and measuring reservoir, and a filling passage between the two reservoirs. A rigid support tube may be inserted in the filling passage. A dispensing spout is heat welded into a marginal edge of the pouch container in communication with the measuring reservoir so that, by applying hand pressure to the main reservoir, and with the measuring reservoir vented, a controlled, measured amount of liquid is transferred to the measuring reservoir which may then be dispensed through the spout.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S.application No. 60/310,476 entitled “Pouch Container for Measuring andDispensing Liquids”, filed Aug. 7, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to dispensing containers forliquids; and more particularly, to a dispensing container in the form ofa closed pouch formed from flexible sheet materials and including aprovision for measuring a quantity of liquid intended to be dispensed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There are a number of prior containers for measuring and thendispensing the measured quantity of a liquid. Examples include U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,418,843 and 4,106,673. Many prior art measuring dispensingcontainers are formed of a more rigid plastic material which, althoughside walls may be squeezed to reduce the interior volume of thecontainer, are nevertheless not truly flexible in the sense of a pouchcontainer. Pouch containers are widely used in storing and dispensingliquids, for example, in the field of industrial and commercial cleaningchemicals, as well as for granular and liquid insecticides, pesticides,and other industrial and commercial chemicals required to be dispensedin limited or predetermined quantities.

[0004] Such prior dispensers, however, do not fulfill all of the desiredfunctions for use in the field of commercial and industrial cleaningchemicals. In this particular industry, it is desired to have acontainer which is not necessarily openable to pour out the entirevolume of the stored liquid, but which does contain a dispensing spoutfor dispensing a smaller measured quantity of the liquid. This avoidsspilling or dispensing volumes of chemicals larger than intended, whichis desirable in some instances of application such as waste managementor pest or insect control, which may be officially regulated. At thesame time, it is desired to have the container be flexible so that itcan be used in existing proportioning system for cleaning chemicals andmounted in a convenient manner in proportioning or automatic meteringsystems.

[0005] Further, it is desirable that such containers be capable of beingset in an upright or self-supporting position to avoid spillage, eventhough they are flexible, and to have an inexpensive, yet convenient andreadily accessible means for comfortably, safely and reliablytransporting the container by hand, through the use of a handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention includes a pouch which is formed ofadjacent or overlying sheets of a heat-sealable thermoplastic material,particularly a heavy, yet flexible multiple-ply plastic sheet materialresistant to tearing, cutting, piercing and chemical attack, yet whichreadily receives printed material, such as instructions and otherlabeling information.

[0007] The original pouch container is formed by heat-sealing first andsecond overlapping side sheets together with a bottom sheet along alledges, except for a filling aperture. Provision is also made for adispensing spout. Internally, the adjacent side sheets of the containerare also welded to form a filling or transfer conduit and a measuringreservoir. The filling conduit or passage communicates the bottomportion of the main liquid storage chamber or reservoir with the top ofthe measuring reservoir. A rigid tube may be inserted in the fillingpassage to maintain the passage open.

[0008] The bottom of the container includes a gusset which has its loweredges sealed to the adjacent side sheets or walls respectively of thepouch during manufacturing. The ends of the gusset are welded to thelower edges of the side plies so that the bottom gusset forms a bottomwall which may be spread for supporting the container and its contentson a flat surface when the main storage reservoir is filled with liquid.The weight of the stored liquid forces the side walls apart since theyare flexible, and it also weighs down upon the gusset to form a stable,weighted bottom for support. As the bottom wall opens under the weightof the stored liquid, it become flat when placed on a flat surface,thereby creating a stable support surface under the weight of theliquid. Thus, the pouch and its contents are capable of being storedupright or placed upright for immediate use.

[0009] After the desired amount of liquid is admitted into the mainliquid reservoir through the filling aperture, the filling aperture issealed off so that the entire pouch is closed except for a dispensingspout covered with a removable cap. The spout communicates directly withthe graduated measuring reservoir.

[0010] The present invention may include, preferably along a marginaledge adjacent the filling tube, a number of cutouts, one of which may beround to provide a mounting hole, and another is in the form of anopening for fingers to provide a handle for carrying the container andits contents.

[0011] When used manually, the storage pouch may be placed on ahorizontal surface or mounted on a hook or hanger with the dispensingspout closed. When it is desired to dispense a measured quantity, thecap is opened slightly to permit trapped air to pass through the cap andvent the measuring reservoir. The sides of the main liquid reservoir arepressed together by hand. This forces the liquid in the main storagereservoir under pressure through the filling passage and tube and intothe measuring reservoir. When the desired quantity of measured liquid isin the measuring reservoir, the hand pressure is released, and theliquid in the filling passage and tube falls back down to the mainreservoir under gravity.

[0012] The quantity of liquid transferred to the measuring reservoirremains there temporarily; and it is dispensed by removing the capentirely and pouring the measured quantity from the measuring reservoirthrough the dispensing spout. Many applications do not require greataccuracy of measurement, but having the filling passage located on aside of the measuring reservoir which is remote from the dispensingspout increases dispensing accuracy, as will be understood.

[0013] Among the advantages of the present invention are its flexibilityin use, its ability to be modified economically for a large range ofstorage quantities, measuring quantities, and applications, and itseconomical, convenient, accurate and reliable measuring and dispensingof quantities for the intended use, which does not require greataccuracy. Further, the container cannot be re-used, and this may have asignificant advantage in applications where re-use of the container isrestricted or undesirable. The flexible nature of the container wallmaterials reduces the bulk upon disposal after use.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the illustrated embodiment accompanied by the attacheddrawing wherein identical reference numerals refer to like parts and thevarious views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015]FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a first embodiment of adispensing container incorporating the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the container of FIG. 1shown before the main storage reservoir is sealed and showing theopening for filling the main storage reservoir with liquid;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but with the upperportion of the container above sight line 3-3 of FIG. 2 cut away;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the measuring reservoirenlarged after a measured quantity has been transferred to the measuringreservoir;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a lower fragmentary, perspective view of the inventivecontainer showing the bottom of the container expanded;

[0020]FIG. 6 is an elevational side view of a second embodiment of adispensing container incorporating the present invention, with a supporttube extending through the filling passage to prevent its collapse;

[0021]FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the container of FIG. 6before the main storage reservoir is sealed; and

[0022]FIG. 8 is an upper, right side perspective view of the containerof FIG. 6 taken through the sight line 8-8 of FIG. 6 and showing thesupport tube extending slightly above the cut-away upper edge of theside sheets forming the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of adispensing container shown in an upright position is generallydesignated 10. The container 10 is made from two overlying plies offlexible thermoplastic sheet material 11, 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and a thirdsheet or gusset 14 forming a bottom wall (FIG. 5) which are heat weldedtogether in the areas described below. The weld areas of the finalcontainer include a continuous marginal weld, except for a dispensingspout as will be described. The marginal weld includes a right sidemargin 15, bottom margins 16 (in side panel 11), 17 (in the other sidepanel 12, see FIG. 5), and a narrower left side margin 18. Dashed lineis used to illustrate the edges of the heat welds forming the sealedmargins. A suitable material for side plies 11, 17 which is commerciallyavailable is a multi-ply plastic having an outer layer of 40 gauge clearpolyester (capable of being printed), an intermediate layer of 100 gaugebiax nylon for strength, and an inner layer of 6 mil nylon coax forresistance to chemicals. As used herein, the term “flexible” whenapplied to the layers or sheets of thermoplastic material means thatthey collapse when a single sheet or layer is placed in a verticleposition. That is, a single layer has no beam strength when placed in ahorizontal place.

[0024] The bottom 14 of the container 10, which may be of the samethree-ply sheet material, forms a gusset having one edge sealed at 16 tothe bottom of the side ply 11, and the opposing edge sealed at 17 to thebottom of the other side ply 12. The left and right ends of the bottomwall 14 are sealed respectively to the lower corner portions of themarginal welds 15, 16, 17 and 18 so that a continuous, liquid-proofpouch is provided with, originally, an upper fill opening designated 19in FIG. 2 which is not sealed originally, as indicated in FIG. 2, so asto permit the desired fluid to be placed in the pouch before it isclosed. Continuing on with the sealed or welded marginal portions, theupper left portion of the top margin of the container is welded at 21and 22. The welded upper marginal portions 21, 22 are separated toprovide an opening which receives and is heat welded (or attached byother suitable means) to a conventional mount fitting 23 of a threadeddispenser or pour spout 24, on which is received a removable internallythreaded cap 25. Alternatively, a “pushpull” sealable pour spout may beused.

[0025] Continuing on with the heat weld of the adjacent side sheets 11,12, it extends from the top weld portion 22 downwardly forming a strip26, then laterally in the strip 27. The portion 27 is then continuouswith a generally upright weld strip 29 which, together with the marginaledge weld 15 defines a space forming filling passage 31. The weld strip29 includes an upper segment 30 which terminates at its upper end shortof the top weld portion 21 and at its lower end just above the bottommarginal weld 16 which forms the bottom of the main storage reservoir33. An inlet opening 32 communicates the elongated filling passage 31with the bottom of the main storage reservoir 33. The filling tube 31thus communicates the bottom of the main storage reservoir 33 via inletopening 32 with the top of a measuring reservoir 35. The measuringreservoir 35 is thus formed by the weld strips 26, 27 and the upperportion 30 of weld strip 29, together with the adjoining portions of theside sheets 11, 12.

[0026] Once the desired quantity of liquid is introduced into the mainstorage reservoir 33 through the opening 19 and inlet portion 34, theopening 19 is then welded closed as indicated by the inclined marginal37 (FIG. 1), thus providing, in combination with the capped spout 24 andwelded areas 18, 16, 15, 21 and 22, a closed, sealed envelope or pouchcontainer having flexible side walls and a gusseted bottom wall forstoring liquid so that the weight of the liquid bears down on the bottomwall 14, spreading apart the bottom edges of the side panels 11, 12, andforcing the bottom wall 14 to rest flat against any underlying supportsurface to form a stable support for the container and its contents.

[0027] A cutout 39 may be formed in the right marginal weld portion 15to define a space for the insertion of two or three fingers of a hand,and provide a carrying handle for a user. In addition, a smaller, roundaperture 40 may be formed in the marginal edge 15 for hanging the poucheither for storage, display or transportation, or for mounting the pouchin an automatic metering or proportioning system, if desired. The sidewall of the measuring reservoir 35 may be graduated with horizontalprinted markers indicating volume, as illustrated by the horizontallines 47 in FIG. 1.

[0028] The operation of the system is explained with reference to FIGS.3 and 4 which show the bottom half of the container 10 with the mainstorage reservoir 33 filled with liquid. As seen in FIG. 3, themeasuring reservoir 35, formed by the welded portions 26, 27 and theupper portion 30 of weld strip 29 is comparatively flat since itcontains no liquid originally. Moreover, the liquid in the mainreservoir 33 does not travel up the filling passage 31 when the cap 25is in place and the storage container is mounted by means of the holes37 or placed in an upright position.

[0029] To pass a desired quantity of liquid from the main storagereservoir 33 into the metering reservoir 35, the user loosens cap 25(FIG. 1) slightly without removing it to vent the measuring reservoir 35to escape. While holding the container in one hand by handle 39, theuser then applies pressure with opposing fingers and thumb of the otherhand to the sides of the main storage reservoir 33. This pressure causesthe main storage reservoir to reduce in volume and forces liquid throughthe inlet opening 32, and up the fill or delivery passage 31, and overthe upper portion 30 of weld strip 29 (which acts like a weir) and intothe measuring reservoir 35.

[0030] When the desired liquid quantity is transmitted into themeasuring reservoir 35, the hand pressure on the main storage reservoir33 is relaxed and the liquid level in the fill passage 31 drops. The cap25 is then fully removed, and the measured quantity of liquid isdispensed through the open spout 24. It will be observed that by pouringthe measured quantity away from the user's hand holding the handleformed by cutout 39, the liquid in the main storage reservoir 33 isunable to travel up the fill passage 31. This insures that the amount ofliquid dispensed is that which was placed in the measuring reservoir. Ifeven greater accuracy is required in the measurement, the user may usehis or her finger and thumb to squeeze the fill passage closed aftermeasuring and during dispensing.

[0031] Turning now to the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8, similar elementswhich have been disclosed in connection with the first embodiment willbe identified with like reference numerals preceded by a “1”. Thus, thesecond embodiment includes first and second sheets of thermal plasticmaterial 111, 112 which are heat sealed together to form a rightmarginal heat weld strip 115, a bottom marginal weld strip 116 (togetherwith a second bottom marginal edge not seen in FIGS. 6-8 but similar tothe previously described marginal heat sealed strip 117 (FIG. 5) form inconnection with a bottom wall similar to that shown at 14 in FIG. 5, notshown in the second embodiment for simplicity. Continuing, the secondembodiment includes a left marginal weld 118 and a top marginal weld121. The top marginal weld 121 extends completely from the right side tothe left side of the pouch container and is separated from the upperedge of the left marginal heat weld 118 to receive the mount fitting 23of the spout 24 which may be identical to that shown in the firstembodiment. As with the first embodiment, the side plies 111, 112 arewelded to the mount 23 of the spout 24. A similar handle aperture 139may be formed in the right side marginal weld 115 as seen in FIG. 6.

[0032] A horizontal strip of heat weld 127 defines the bottom of ameasuring reservoir 135. A second heat weld strip 130 extends from theright edge of the heat weld strip 127 upwardly and toward the spout 24,but spaced from the top marginal heat weld 121 as seen in FIG. 6, toreceive a curved upper end 141, of a straw-like support tube 142. Thebottom of support tube 142 is designated 145. A second inclined marginalheat weld strip 138, parallel to the weld strip 130 is spaced from thestrip 130 to receive and secure the tubular support member 142 whichextends downwardly into the main storage reservoir 133 formed by themarginal heat weld 115, 116, 118 and the right hand portion of the topheat weld strip 121. The upper portion of the support tube 142 iscurved, as mentioned, as at 141 to define a discharge end 146 fordelivering fluid from the main storage reservoir 133 into the measuringreservoir 135.

[0033] Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown the pouch partially formedwith the two side plies 111, 112 not heat sealed along the uppermarginal edge so as to provide a fill opening 119 so that the liquid canbe dispensed in the direction of the arrow 149 into the main storagereservoir 133 before the support tube 142 is assembled to the container,and the upper marginal edge then 121 heat sealed to close the container.

[0034] As seen in FIG. 8, the support tube 142 extends between the heatweld strips 130, 138, thereby holding the adjacent portions of the sideplies 111, 112 separate from one another. The inclusion of the tubularsupport member 142 has been found effective to keep open the fill tubeformed by the heat weld strips 130, 138, and the configuration shown inFIGS. 6, 7 and 8, with the tubular support member 142 extending to thebottom of the main storage reservoir 133, facilitates greater use of theliquid stored in the main reservoir 133 until it is almost completelyempty. The top of the weld strips 130, 138 are spaced below the uppermarginal weld 121 in FIG. 6 to form an opening or passage 141 whichpermits the fluid in the main reservoir 133 to be poured directly outthe pour spout 24, if desired, to empty the contents or when accuratemeasurement of a pour quantity is unnecessary or desired.

[0035] It can thus be seen that a convenient, economical, yet useful andreliable storage container for liquids includes a convenient measuringapparatus in a flexible pouch having only a single, re-sealable openingafter the main storage reservoir has been sealed following the fillingof the main storage reservoir with the desired liquid.

[0036] Having thus disclosed in detail two illustrated embodiments ofthe invention, persons skilled in the art will be able to modify certainof the structure which have been disclosed and to substitute similarelements for those described while continuing to practice the principleof the invention; and it is, therefore, intended that all suchmodifications and substitutions be covered as they are embraced withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. An article comprising: A closed pouch container includingfirst and second plies of heat sealable flexible plastic sheet materialsealed together in marginal areas and in inner areas internally of saidmarginal areas to define a main reservoir adjacent a bottom of saidpouch container when said container is in an upright position, and adispensing reservoir adjacent a top of said container in said uprightposition, said first and second plies being further sealed to define anelongated tubular passage separating said storage reservoir and saiddispensing reservoir; a quantity of liquid cleaning chemical in saidstorage reservoir; and a resealable dispenser spout sealed to said pliesof said container and in fluid communication with said dispensingreservoir whereby when said dispenser spout is opened, air in saiddispensing reservoir is vented and pressure may be applied to saidflexible pouch adjacent said main reservoir to transfer will force aquantity of said liquid from said main reservoir through said tubularpassage to said dispensing reservoir from which said transferredquantity of liquid may be dispensed under gravity from said dispensingreservoir through said dispenser.
 2. The article of claim 1 furthercomprising a tubular support member received in said passage forpreventing said passage from collapsing under normal use conditions. 3.The article of claim 2 wherein said tubular support member includes abottom defining an opening located adjacent the bottom of said mainreservoir, said tubular support member extending upwardly adjacent a topof said dispensing reservoir and thence extending into said dispensingreservoir.
 4. The article of claim 3 wherein said tubular supportcomprises a straw-like member curved adjacent said top of saiddispensing reservoir to direct liquid transferred from said mainreservoir downwardly into said dispensing reservoir.
 5. The article ofclaim 1 wherein said dispenser spout comprises a threaded spout sealedto said first and second plies of said container, and a cap threaded byreceived on said spout for sealing said spout, said spout locatedadjacent one side of said container, said plies being heat sealed toform a marginal strip on a side of said container opposite said one sidethereof, said marginal strip defining an opening forming a carryinghandle, whereby said cap may be loosened to vent the interior of saiddispensing reservoir and then a measured quantity of said liquidtransferred to said dispensing reservoir by squeezing said mainreservoir, and cap may be removed to dispense said measured quantity tosaid one side of said container while said container is supported onsaid opposing side thereof.
 6. The article of claim 5 wherein said innerareas of heat sealed plies include a first weld strip partially definingsaid dispensing reservoir and a second weld strip extending generallyparallel to and spaced from said first weld strip to define a passage,said article further comprising a rigid tubular support received in saidpassage and providing fluid communication between a bottom of said mainreservoir and an upper portion of said dispensing reservoir.
 7. Thearticle of claim 5 further comprising a third ply of heat sealableplastic sheet material sealed to bottom margins of said first and secondplies to provide a bottom wall for said main reservoir wherein saidbottom wall rests flat on a horizontal surface on which said article isplaced.
 8. The article of claim 6 wherein said first and second weldstrips extend in a generally upright direction when said article isupright and an upper edge of each of said first and second weld stripsis spaced from a top marginal weld of said container by a distancesufficient to permit any liquid remaining in said main reservoir to betransferred directly to be dispensed when said container is inverted.